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Camping is a fun activity that allows you to spend time with family and friends. Many shy away from it, because they think it is going to be too complicated. It is not that hard when you some great advice. This advice will make you love camping!

Leave no trace of your outing at your campsite, for environmental reasons and as a courtesy to park officials who clean up and the next camping crew. Make sure all trash is picked up, you refill holes you may have dug and of course, that your campfire is completely out!

When you decide to go camping you want to make sure that you bring a flashlight with some batteries. You want to be able to see in the middle of the night just in case you have to get up and go to the bathroom, or just to move around.

Take only photos and leave only footprints. That is the rule of thumb when camping. Only use the natural resources that you need and do not leave any traces that you were camping when you leave. Pick up all trash, extinguish and cover any fire pits, bury all human waste, and make the area where you camped look exactly as it did when you found it.

If you’re bringing kids on your camping trip, over-pack for them. Camping is messy business. Children seem to be dirt magnets. Because of this, your children will likely be filthy by the end of the day. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Staying prepared is the best way to avoid issues on your trip.

You need to maintain your cleanliness while camping. Good hygiene is difficult when you are camping sometimes, but you can keep yourself clean. A bottle of hand sanitizer is excellent to have so you can clean hands before eating. You can also use rubbing alcohol on areas of your body that are not sensitive. A mild biodegradable soap and a sponge can be used to take mini-baths when water resources are low.

Make sure you know what’s covered in your medical insurance. Some policies will not cover you outside your own state. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. Semper paratus doesn’t just apply to the military! Be prepared!

Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. While you are camping in the great outdoors, it can be very easy to miss taking your daily shower. You’ll feel much cleaner by swimming in cool water. Therefore, you aren’t going to miss your home shower as much.

Old dryer lint makes a great fire-starter. Start collecting lint from the filter in your tumble dryer several weeks before your camping adventure. Place a bag near your tumble dryer and just stuff lint from the dryer’s filter into the bag every time it is full. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.

Many people are deterred from camping because they have to sleep on the ground, but you do not have to be uncomfortable when you go camping. Stop by the local drug store and purchase some inexpensive pool floats. These are far more comfortable than the ground to sleep on, and will keep you high and dry as well.

An indispensable item to pack for your camping trip is Ziploc bags. You can separate items in your gear like sunscreen and bug spray so if they puncture they do not get all over your gear. You can also use them to keep items like matches and cellphones dry if it rains.

If you are camping in a location with dangerous wildlife, take safety precautions with your food. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. You will be less likely to have an attack with these procedures.

When you select the location for your tent, be sure that it is the right place. The ground should be level and do what you can to avoid setting it up at the bottom of a hill. This will help you keep it dry if the weather should turn bad.

Be sure to check your first-aid kit before you leave for your trip. You need to be sure it has all the basic necessities. Make sure it includes items like bandages, tweezers, disinfectant, ointment, etc. You never know when something may injure you or another person on your trip, so it’s best to be prepared.

Part of the fun of camping is cooking over an open fire or on a camp stove. To make sure you don’t forget to pack any key ingredients, make a list of the meals you plan on preparing. Don’t forget to take a small cutting board along with you so you have a clean surface for food preparation. Also remember to pack a couple of potholder or oven mitts to handle hot utensils, such as marshmallow forks.

When camping, many people wake up in the morning, only to find out they they have left items out that are now wet. This is because of the morning dew, which can hardly be avoided. If the weather conditions are right, dew is inevitable, so make sure you put things away.

If you don’t like to drink water, you will be in real trouble on a long camping trip. Water is essential to staying hydrated, so if you really hate the taste, purchase some one-use lemonade and add it to bottles of water. This will keep you hydrated throughout your adventure.

People who are going camping would be wise to stay away from axes to do their chopping. Sure an Ax might make you feel manly, but in many conditions, particularly when it is wet outside, or you are tired, an ax is a one-way ticket to the hospital.

Camping really can be enjoyable. Anyone can learn how to be good at camping. Use all you have learned when you go on your next camping trip. You should be well on the way to an adventure that will help you get closer with nature.